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Stephen Thompson Stephen Thompson is a host, writer and reviewer for NPR Music and Pop Culture Happy Hour. He appears frequently on All Songs Considered and NPR newsmagazines.
Washington, DC - May 03, 2016: Stephen Thompson CREDIT: Matt Roth
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Stephen Thompson

Tuesday

Our 2025 pop culture resolutions
Alexandr Kolesnikov/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our 2025 pop culture resolutions

As a new year arrives, it's only natural to have some goals in mind: What you want to achieve, what heights you want to hit. Today, we make pop culture resolutions for 2025, and look back on last year's goals and assess our progress with brutal honesty.

Our 2025 pop culture resolutions

Listen · 30:07
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Monday

Our 2025 pop culture predictions
Olga Peshkova/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our 2025 pop culture predictions

Nobody can predict what the future holds, but that doesn't stop us from trying. Trying, that is, to predict what will happen in the world of pop culture in 2025. We do it every year, so we'll look back on our predictions for 2024 and see how things turned out.

Our 2025 pop culture predictions

Listen · 28:40
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Friday

Music

Taylor Swift isn't done. She's found new ways to stay at the top of the charts

Even though Taylor Swift released her album "The Tortured Poets Department" back in April, she found a way to bring it back to the top of the charts in December.

Encore: TAYLOR SWIFT ISN'T DONE

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In 'A Complete Unknown,' Timothée Chalamet captures the idea of Bob Dylan

Timothée Chalamet in A Complete Unknown. Macall Polay/Searchlight Pictures hide caption

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Macall Polay/Searchlight Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'A Complete Unknown,' Timothée Chalamet captures the idea of Bob Dylan

A Complete Unknown isn't a traditional biopic. Instead of covering Bob Dylan's life story from birth to old age, it covers the period shortly after his arrival in New York City, as he first begins to fall in with the city's folk music scene. Timothée Chalamet plays Dylan — and does all his own singing. We see Dylan become a superstar, as well as his famous set at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival —where he and his band plugged in for an electrified set that's often viewed as a cultural turning point in America.

In 'A Complete Unknown,' Timothée Chalamet captures the idea of Bob Dylan

Listen · 23:33
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Thursday

Nicole Kidman's erotic thriller makes us ask, 'Babygirl,' what are you doing??

Nicole Kidman in Babygirl. A24 hide caption

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A24

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Nicole Kidman's erotic thriller makes us ask, 'Babygirl,' what are you doing??

In the new movie Babygirl, Nicole Kidman plays a high-powered CEO who has an affair her mysterious intern (Harris Dickinson). Their affair gets complicated by the many power dynamics involved — not just in the office, but also in a sexual relationship defined by dominance and submission.

Nicole Kidman's erotic thriller makes us ask, 'Babygirl,' what are you doing??

Listen · 21:18
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Tuesday

Obituaries

Remembering Alfa Anderson, the voice behind 'Le Freak' and 'Good Times'

Alfa Anderson sang on some of Chic's most memorable hits, including "Le Freak," "Good Times," and "My Forbidden Lover." She died on Dec. 17 at 78.

Remembering Alfa Anderson, the voice behind 'Le Freak' and 'Good Times'

Listen · 2:23
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On the albums chart, the K-pop group Stray Kids debuts at No. 1 with HOP; the group has debuted atop the Billboard 200 with its first six charting albums, which is a new record to kick off a career.

On the albums chart, the K-pop group Stray Kids debuts at No. 1 with HOP; the group has debuted atop the Billboard 200 with its first six charting albums, which is a new record to kick off a career. Penske Media/via Getty Images hide caption

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Penske Media/via Getty Images

Music

Mariah Carey and K-pop group Stray Kids rule this week's charts

Holiday music rules the pop charts once again this week, as Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" scores its 17th nonconsecutive week at No. 1 — the third longest run of all time.

pop charts update 12/24

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Monday

Music News

In recent years we've seen a flurry of music biopics. What makes a good biopic?

With the Christmas release of the movie about Bob Dylan -- "A Complete Unknown" -- we consider what elements make for a great music biopic... and why some films hit a sour note.

In recent years we’ve seen a flurry of music biopics. What makes a good biopic?

Listen · 6:50
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Friday

In 'Mufasa,' every question you never had about 'The Lion King' is answered

Mufasa (voiced by Braelyn Rankins) in Mufasa: The Lion King. Disney hide caption

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Disney

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Mufasa,' every question you never had about 'The Lion King' is answered

It's been five years since Disney remade its animated classic The Lion King as a photorealistic blockbuster. This leads us to Mufasa: The Lion King, a new prequel telling the story of Mufasa's rise — as well as the origins of his rivalry with Scar. The film was directed by Barry Jenkins (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk) and features new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda.

In 'Mufasa,' every question you never had about 'The Lion King' is answered

Listen · 30:21
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Thursday

We debate the best movies to watch on an airplane

Auli'i Cravalho voices Moana in Disney's 2016 Moana. FlixPix / Alamy Stock Photo / Disney hide caption

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FlixPix / Alamy Stock Photo / Disney

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We debate the best movies to watch on an airplane

Watching a movie on a plane can be a great way to pass the time if you're traveling for the holidays – particularly if you're going a long way. But picking the right movie can be very tricky. Today, we're debating the best movies to watch on an airplane, and making recommendations, including Moana, Jackie Brown, The Holdovers, and The Lion in Winter.

We debate the best movies to watch on an airplane

Listen · 21:28
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Wednesday

Mariah Carey released "All I Want For Christmas Is You" in 1994, but it took 25 years for the song to reach the top of Billboard's Hot 100 pop chart. Since 2019, it has topped the chart each December for a total of 16 weeks at No. 1 — so far.

Mariah Carey (shown performing in New York City in 2014) released "All I Want For Christmas Is You" in 1994, but it took 25 years for the song to reach the top of Billboard's Hot 100 pop chart. Since 2019, it has topped the chart each December for a total of 16 weeks at No. 1 — so far. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images hide caption

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Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Music

The season of Christmas songs is here. Will the classics make room for anything new?

'Tis the season for a handful of familiar Christmas songs to monopolize the top spots on the Billboard pop chart. But a few newer songs are making a play to join the annual holiday jukebox.

The season of Christmas songs is here. Will the classics make room for anything new?

Listen · 2:26
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Tuesday

A very tolerable Christmas, with All Songs Considered 2024
GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images

All Songs Considered

A very tolerable Christmas, with All Songs Considered 2024

Our annual attempt to throw a holiday party for the ages continues with a tolerable mix of songs for the season and, as always, some very special guests.

A very tolerable Christmas, with All Songs Considered 2024

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Monday

Music News

A good Christmas song can set the mood. Others can ruin the mood

Some Christmas music is classic; some is cringe-worthy. Today we celebrate the latter. This is the music you play when you want your guests to leave.

A good Christmas song can set the mood. Others can ruin the mood

Listen · 7:01
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Friday

Music

Will a song ever again become a holiday fixture like 'All I Want for Christmas is You?'

This year marks 30 years since the release of Mariah Carey's hit, "All I Want for Christmas is You." But have any other pop singles been able to enter the holiday music canon since?

Will a song ever again become a holiday fixture like 'All I Want for Christmas is You?'

Listen · 8:00
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